Allium cepa,
commonly known as the onion, is of the lily family of plants. It needs
no description, as Culpeper would say, for everyone knows of its
flavour and its tearful preparation for culinary events. Cooked slowly
it has a wonderful sweetness and is a perfect partner to the pungent
friend of the same family, garlic.

There is something more
mysterious about onions. It is a nourishing food; it heals as a
medicament; it has prophylactic properties; and it wards off spectres
and ghouls! Onions come in a bewildering array of varieties and are one
of the earliest propagated food plants. It is told that the ancient
Persians under the direction of Zarathustra were encouraged to breed
the food plants. The rose and lily are the archetype plants from which
all fruit and cereal plants emerge.

‘Tradition links lilies to
the goddess Isis and the so-called Madonna lily is a Christian version
of the same. Lilies are the plant of wisdom.’ Hauschka tells us that
where the lily has been bred into the onion, leek, garlic, chives and
others, their effects on humans are linked to the nervous system. ‘In
its shape and substance too we see clear indications of the descent of
heavenly forces through the entire plant…. lends itself to the role of
digestive quickener….stimulates excretion while at the same time
helping soul and spirit to incarnate fully….aid to the proper
functioning of brain and regeneration.’ [1] The functioning concerns
the forces related to the moon; hence perhaps the connection with
spectres and ghouls in folk tales and superstition!

‘Country
people have hung up a string of Onions as a protection against an
infectious disease, and it has constantly been observed that the Onions
will take the disease while the inmates remain immune. For this reason
it is important to examine onions before they are cooked, and to
discard any which are imperfect.’ [2]

There are many stories
along this line from traditional cultures. Onions are a valuable
disinfectant. At the risk of offending the sensitive, cutting
onions in half and setting them on window sills, with the window
slightly open, will ensure the air inside the house is cleansed and
purified. It has been known this has saved whole households from
falling ill to various flu epidemics of the past and no doubt rendered
them immune from earlier plagues and pestilences.

The Chinese and Onion energetics in healing‘All
members of the onion family share certain key qualities: they are
pungent and influence the lungs (the pungent flavour ‘enters’ the
lungs); and promote warmth and this moves energy in the body, resolves
blood stagnancies, reduces clotting, and expels coldness. They are
perhaps the richest foods in sulphur, a warming element that purifies
the body, helps remove heavy metals and parasites, and facilitates
protein/amino acid metabolism. Thus those on a high protein diet can
benefit from the onion family. These plants also clean the arteries and
retard the growth of viruses, yeasts, ferments, and other pathogenic
organisms often proliferating in those eating unbalanced diets. In
spite of their medicinal virtue, these plants are thought to foster
excessive emotional desire and therefore are not recommended in the
major Oriental traditions for those seeking mental and spiritual
refinement.’ [3] In India, Hing or asafoetida is used instead of garlic and onions. [4]

The medicinal virtues also include:• Reduces blood pressure and cholesterol; • Decreases catarrh (phlegm and inflammation of the nose and throat); • Treats dysentery; • Inhibits allergic reactions; • Induces sweating; • Is a cure for the common cold. ‘The juice of Onions snuffed up into the nose, purgeth the head and draweth forth raw flegmaticke humors.’ See note 4• Juice compresses or raw onion packs are also used externally on insect bites to draw out swelling and pain. • Onion packs on the chest are a remedy for bronchial inflammation and other chest congestions. • Onion tea calms the brain and acts as a general sedative.

A
traditional cough remedy consists of onions simmered in water until
soft with a little honey added; one onion is eaten every four hours.

‘Although
onions are healthy and can be used for seasoning in many ways, they do
not agree with everyone, especially people whose digestion is not good
and who tend to suffer from intestinal fermentation and flatulence.
Such problems are exacerbated when onions are eaten,’ says the Swiss
Nature Doctor, Alfred Vogel. [5]

And since there have been a few
cases of colic in last month, here is another tip: “For colic and wind
in the umbilical region, and for infants and small children who have
bladder cramps along with reddish smarting urine, Allium cepa
is a harmless and reliable remedy. If you do not have extract of Allium
cepa in your medicine chest, cut a thin slice of onion, dip it into a
glass of warm water for a few seconds then remove it and take a sip of
the water every hour. You will be astonished at the prompt relief this
will bring.” [6]

This is also Vogel’s tip for streaming colds
(use homoeopathically when symptoms are similar to cutting onions). Dip
a slice of freshly cut onion into a glass of hot water. Remove the
onion after only one or two seconds, allow to cool and sip this
throughout the day. If in addition you place half an onion on your
bedside table, you will inhale its odour while sleeping, thus reducing
your tendency to catarrh and so alleviating your cold.

Now is the Winter…The
recent seasonal epidemic affliction was catarrhal in nature. ‘Bunged
up’ head with ear pain, sore throat worsened to the ears and head and
not so much a lung condition, though that depended on susceptibility.
The cure necessitated the use of onions and several patients were
offered the following recipe and used to good effects.

Homemade
onion syrup is the best remedy for catarrh and chesty coughs. In this
recipe one has the healing effects of honey and the properties of
onion. It is of course always best to use organic ingredients if
available. Otherwise proceed with what is in hand – this is the secret
of kitchen medicine.

Onion syrupSlice
a peeled onion into thin slices. Lay some slices in the bottom of a
bowl and drizzle some organic honey (or better still Manuka honey) over
the slices, then repeat the procedure until you have used up all the
onion slices. Cover the bowl and leave it at room temperature,
preferably overnight. The resulting liquid can be strained off and
bottled. Give one teaspoon three times a day. The taste is not
unpleasant but you might want to have a sweet handy, in case your child
dislikes it! Do not give more than the suggested dose, or you might
find it causes diarrhoea. Keep the syrup in the refrigerator and make
some fresh every three days. Within a week you should see a difference
in your child's degree of catarrh. The source of this natural remedy is
unknown.

Onion soupIt
is well known that French onion soup is very fortifying in times of
illness too. Butter, onions and beef stock (homemade preferably and
simply) is all that is needed.

Melt a slab of butter (45g);
add 1 tbsp of oil, and gently sauté 4-5 onions, sliced, for 20-30
minutes. Stir occasionally; do not burn. Add beef stock 6-8 cups and
season to taste, simmer further for 30 minutes. Measurements will vary,
no need to be precise. This is a healing recipe that works wonders to
strengthen the weak and warm up the body. Consult a cookbook for the
genuine French Onion Soup recipe.